"Chess is very simple. He goes there, I go here. I go there, he goes here."

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Aussie Junior Left at Hotel

Team Australia 1 is doing reasonably well in the U16 Olympiad in Singapore. After 5 rounds, the Aussies have collected 13.5 points, the same tally as the Pinoy team. According to team manager, Jenni Oliver, everyone is "playing their hearts out - getting some horrible positions, but turning them into draws and wins".

We received this email from Mrs Oliver overnight direct from the event:

I think the main feeling at the moment is exhaustion - for adults and players.

There is a gruelling schedule of 2 games a day and by the time you add in all the analysis and preparation and bus travel to and from the hotel to the venue and back again, there hardly seems a spare minute. The coaches are starting at 7am and finishing at 11pm.

We've had a few hysterical moments - once when Andrew Brown was left behind at the hotel. We managed to get him put into a taxi and collected him from the entrance and rushed him to his board 5 mins after the round started, but he still managed to win.

Various people are now taking responsibility for making sure kids get woken up and transported. Everyone is working together for the team and helping out. Barbara Kinder has taken on the onerous job of organising the team coach's schedules.

The venue is Ignatius Leong's chess school - almost died of envy when I saw it.

Singapore Chess have done a fantastic job - it is all very well organised and friendly. They try and fix any problems and issues as quickly as they can. Osric Mooi particularly is a treasure. :)

We were a little disappoined at the 2-2 result with Uzbekistan. Moulthun played so well, but unfortunately could only get a draw out of it. All 5 members of the top team are playing their hearts out - getting some horrible positions, but turning them into draws and wins.

Australia's top team will play the Hungarians in the sixth round. Good luck to those guys!